Make the beach part of your everyday life. From Spain's Costa del Sol to South Africa's shoreline, explore 1,490 properties within 3 km of a beach in 14 countries. There is only so much coastline, so start your search today.
Kobe is a port city between the mountains and the bay, and this house is in its central ward on a quiet street, a 14-minute walk from a JR station. It has a building area of about 231 square metres on a plot of about 98 square metres, built up over three…
Within 3 km of a beach
ContactThe essentials
A home near the sea comes with its own rules on who can use the shore and what you can build. These six facts show what to look for before you buy.
Spain's constitution makes its beaches public property. Everyone is free to walk and bathe there, so you buy the home rather than the sand.
Why it matters: Beaches in Spain stay open to the public. A local lawyer can confirm where a property's boundary lies.
Spain's coastal law sets a protection zone, generally 100 metres inland from the shoreline. Private homes can sit in it, but it limits what can be built or changed.
Why it matters: The zone can affect building or alteration work. A local lawyer or architect can confirm how it applies to a specific home.
Turkey's coastal law keeps the shore open to everyone. Buildings on the coastal strip can come no closer than 50 metres to the shore edge line.
Why it matters: Distance from the shore edge line varies between homes. The seller and the local municipality can provide details for a specific property.
Portugal's water law sets a 50-metre margin along the sea, and treats this land as public unless private ownership is proven.
Why it matters: Land right by the sea can involve extra title checks, which a local lawyer can carry out.
South Africa's seashore is coastal public property, held in trust by the state for all South Africans.
Why it matters: The seashore stays open to the public. The local authority can confirm any building lines that apply to a specific property.
The European Commission's researchers estimate yearly coastal flood damage in the EU and UK could rise from €1.4 billion to almost €240 billion by 2100, without action.
Why it matters: The same research found that most of this damage could be avoided with protection. Flood maps and an insurance quote can add useful information about a specific home.
Sources: Spain's Ministry for Ecological Transition, Turkey's Coastal Law, Portugal's Law 54/2005, South Africa's Department of Environmental Affairs, and European Commission Joint Research Centre.
Compare your options
Here are the six largest coastal markets on this page, with the properties near a beach and where their starting prices begin.
| Country | Within 3 km of a beach | Starting prices | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|
 UAE | 357 properties | Starting prices begin at AED 550,000. | |
 Spain | 338 properties | Starting prices begin at EUR 155,000. | |
 Portugal | 291 properties | Starting prices begin at EUR 170,000. | |
 Thailand | 212 properties | Starting prices begin at THB 1,390,000. | |
 South Africa | 123 properties | Starting prices begin at ZAR 3,999,000. | |
 Croatia | 78 properties | Starting prices begin at EUR 199,999. |
Distances are approximate and based on each listing's mapped location. Prices come from each listing and can change. This table is general information rather than financial or legal advice.
For the full list of countries with property near the beach on INTRIC, see our FAQs.
Keep reading
These INTRIC guides explore coastal towns, island living, and what to check before you buy.
City guideA look at this Costa del Sol town, from its old town and marina to homes along the coast.
City guideA look at a Croatian island you can reach by road, from access and marinas to what to check.
City guideAn introduction to life and property on one of Croatia's best-known Dalmatian islands.
Country guideA guide to buying in Portugal, covering process, costs, and market risks.
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers to help you plan your purchase.
On this page, property near the beach means a home within 3 km of a beach, based on its mapped location. Some homes are much closer than others, so asking for the exact distance will help you compare them with confidence.
A home near the sea can make beach days, sea air, and time outdoors part of your routine. It can also become a base for holidays or a new chapter abroad. There is only so much coastline, so it is worth exploring your options while you have time to choose carefully.
You can explore property near the beach in 14 countries, so you can compare several coastlines before you decide:
The UAE, Spain, and Portugal have the most properties on this page, so they are a useful place to start your search.
You can ask the seller for the exact distance, a map, and the walking route to the sand. It also helps to ask whether a main road sits between the home and the beach, and to visit in person if you can.
You should expect to share the beach, because Spain, Turkey, Portugal, and South Africa all keep their shores open to the public. For other countries, your lawyer can explain exactly where your property ends and what access you will have.
You can often let a home, but the rules depend on the country, the city, and the building. Ask the seller and a local adviser about licences, building rules, and tax before you buy, so you can plan with confidence.
It helps to budget for insurance, building charges, and upkeep as well as the purchase price. Ask for an insurance quote and a record of recent building charges, so you know what owning the home will cost each year.
Your next step
Every listing connects you directly with the developer or agent selling it. Open the property you love and press Contact to ask about pricing, availability, and exactly how close it is to the beach.
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